Baseball card shop experience

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by monkeymcgee

I have faith that shop owners are more tuned into the hot products and pricing, which should allow for either an easy to reference price list or put a post-it on the box to say something to the effect that they need to check on pricing for this item.

I don’t think they need to use up-to-the-minute pricing for all of their wax.

This 100%



The OP was talking about basically junk wax from the early 90s.


Instead of throwing out a reasonable number to the OP, the shop owner had to look things up. This is an out of touch owner. He could have sold dead inventory to buy more up to date products, but lost out.

I can totally understand if this is a hot modern product, but there is no excuse for something 20+ years old. Did the price of 1990 donruss baseball go up $25 last week?

[notfast]

Selling packs isn’t always feasible with many of todays products.

[TimBuckTwo]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

[/B]



This 100%



The OP was talking about basically junk wax from the early 90s.


Instead of throwing out a reasonable number to the OP, the shop owner had to look things up. This is an out of touch owner. He could have sold dead inventory to buy more up to date products, but lost out.

I can totally understand if this is a hot modern product, but there is no excuse for something 20+ years old. Did the price of 1990 donruss baseball go up $25 last week?

Yeah the idea is to move it.

[LIONS RULE!]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

[/B]



This 100%



The OP was talking about basically junk wax from the early 90s.


Instead of throwing out a reasonable number to the OP, the shop owner had to look things up. This is an out of touch owner. He could have sold dead inventory to buy more up to date products, but lost out.

I can totally understand if this is a hot modern product, but there is no excuse for something 20+ years old. Did the price of 1990 donruss baseball go up $25 last week?

How do you know he didn't throw out a reasonable number to the OP? The OP only said his price was higher than what he found on the internet. No specifics were given.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by LIONS RULE!

How do you know he didn't throw out a reasonable number to the OP? The OP only said his price was higher than what he found on the internet. No specifics were given.

If he has too look it up, it's already over. I would have walked away too. we aren't talking about 2020 stadium club chrome baseball here.

[LIONS RULE!]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

If he has too look it up, it's already over. I would have walked away too. we aren't talking about 2020 stadium club chrome baseball here.

Sounds pretty unreasonable to me. Spending 5 minutes to look up a price on 3 different 30 year old products? Not a big deal.

[hairysasquatch]

This thread has been written 100x before. Some LCS get it, some don't. Some people will defend anything a brick and mortar does, some won't. Some people will complain about something no matter what.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by LIONS RULE!

Sounds pretty unreasonable to me. Spending 5 minutes to look up a price on 3 different 30 year old products? Not a big deal.

you don't get it.



A guy I know has a both at an antique mall. He has cases of 90's junk wax. He sells boxes in his booth. Each box is $20 bucks. Sometimes he gives people good deals based on the market, but for the most part he makes great $$$ on junk wax and keeps a steady stream of customers coming in each month for his re-stocks.



The bottom line? He makes more than enough to cover his booth costs, and uses the extra money to buy cards for his vintage collection. The key is to keep moving inventory, otherwise it's just dead money sitting on the shelf.



Edit: Yes, I have taken advantage of some of his deals.

[panamamyers]

Originally Posted by KD35Russ0

For me I think what I’m picking up on from the OP is that you would like that experience to not be awkward. The shop that I go to will hold a conversation while checking pricing (what are you looking for in these boxes, what have you been up to, hey I just got a great box of quarter cards why don’t you thumb through while I look these up). I totally agree that brick and mortar are going to have to charge a bit more but the point is they need to work for that up charge. If the service is bad, I personally wouldn’t pay the higher price - I don’t need to get my wax fix healed instantly that badly.


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You hit the nail on the head for me. Not the OP but it is exactly how I would describe my dissatisfaction with my local card shop here in Houston. It's about 15 miles outside of town and I have tried them twice, three or four years apart. Both times it was five guys sitting around eating Wendy's having their own internal conversation and never acknowledging me. Maybe one or two of them worked there. Others friends or customers ..not really sure

[ewokpelts]

All sellers need to know what the market is. But especially the LCS. You need to know how to make sales so that the rent is paid as well as you take home an actual paycheck. And a big part of that is how you merchandise and price product.

A customer shouldn’t feel unwelcome in the process. They are literally the difference every week a successful or failed business.

[soey10]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

Hi OP, seeing you are from Bakersfield, maybe this will help you if you are down in LA:

1.) Frank and Sons. I haven't been there since they moved to the new location, but it’s where I’d buy my wax in person from. A few booths sell by the pack.

2.) South Bay Sportscards in Lomita. I don’t like their prices but they are friendly and helpful to a fault. That is, they will help someone and simply focus on that person. So if all you have is a simple question, you still might get ignored for a length of time. But if you wait around long enough until they are not busy, they will help you every bit as much as the previous customer. They actually have a huge selection of mid and low grade vintage and a ton of nice memorabilia. Some packs and boxes as well.

3. I’ve never been to the Bullpen in Westchester but it’s been highly recommended here. Not sure if they sell by the pack though. Their Yelp pictures show only boxes. Come to think about it, seems that this is the place you visited.

Thank you. I do frequent frank and sons it is great. I will have to try the other places


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[soey10]

Originally Posted by KD35Russ0

For me I think what I’m picking up on from the OP is that you would like that experience to not be awkward. The shop that I go to will hold a conversation while checking pricing (what are you looking for in these boxes, what have you been up to, hey I just got a great box of quarter cards why don’t you thumb through while I look these up). I totally agree that brick and mortar are going to have to charge a bit more but the point is they need to work for that up charge. If the service is bad, I personally wouldn’t pay the higher price - I don’t need to get my wax fix healed instantly that badly.


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This is what I am talking about. I don’t mind the guy referencing online sales but at least have it handy and maybe pretend like you have used eBay before.


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[soey10]

Originally Posted by Triple B

No, I think what ANYONE expects is for the owner to have his sh*t together.

I'm a guy who goes around looking for dealer mistakes. If you don't know what the hell you're doing as a dealer, I'm not going to educate you. If I walk into your brick and mortar and you don't have prices on ANYTHING and when I ask you for a price, you have to consult eBay...I'm going to assume you're clueless and walk away.

We ALL know how B&Ms work, sometimes it's the idiots that run B&Ms don't know.

I totally agree with this and this is my point exactly


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[ottobord]

I can get most things I'm looking for at least 1/3 less online. Stopped going to stores all together. Waste of time.

[Archangel1775]

Yo gotta be clueless if you're looking up prices of junk wax that's been sitting in your store for a decade or more. The OP is already annoyed that empty boxes are sitting in front of display cases and I would be too if that was permanent. Then to waste 5 minutes lookin sh*t up is annoying as well.

[djolley86]

I'm finished with going to our LCS here in Charlotte. The former owner sold earlier this year (probably was a great time to get out, I'd have to imagine), and the new regime is running the place into the ground. I was in there the other day, and they might have had a total of 6 sealed boxes for sale, and only a few single packs and crazy prices ($7 for a single pack up 2020 Update, anyone!?).

[soey10]

Originally Posted by djolley86

I'm finished with going to our LCS here in Charlotte. The former owner sold earlier this year (probably was a great time to get out, I'd have to imagine), and the new regime is running the place into the ground. I was in there the other day, and they might have had a total of 6 sealed boxes for sale, and only a few single packs and crazy prices ($7 for a single pack up 2020 Update, anyone!?).

Makes you wonder how they cover the rent every month. Possible front for a money laundering scheme or an underground gambling site


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[goldfly]

Originally Posted by djolley86

I'm finished with going to our LCS here in Charlotte. The former owner sold earlier this year (probably was a great time to get out, I'd have to imagine), and the new regime is running the place into the ground. I was in there the other day, and they might have had a total of 6 sealed boxes for sale, and only a few single packs and crazy prices ($7 for a single pack up 2020 Update, anyone!?).

I went in a store in Atlanta that was trying to sell single packs of 1990 score for $5 lol

[AlexHunter]

was it that one shop in fresno?

[MOONBASE1]

Shops should try to cultivate in person traffic as best they can. Never know when that customer may come into a collection they wish to flip for a price the shop owner could move for a profit. Not everyone wants to deal with Ebay and that person might be happy with a shop offer. Will never know unless you get those customers in the door and get them to come in on a regular basis for that chance.

[Jim65]

If I visit a shop and stuff isn't priced, I leave. Not worth my time to have to inquire on every item that interests me.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by Jim65

If I visit a shop and stuff isn't priced, I leave. Not worth my time to have to inquire on every item that interests me.

The worst thing shops have done to me....when they have binders or boxes stacked on the bottom shelf of the wall and I ask to see them, their response:

"Sorry, we haven't priced them yet"

I go in 4 months later and ask again

"Sorry, we haven't priced them yet"

I do my best to support them by buying supplies though

[thecardiq]

OP is an idiot. /thread

I side with the owner based on OP alone lol.

[Neal]

I visit my LCS about once every 6 weeks and expect to pay a bit higher than I would on eBay. John is a good guy who I've known for years and has had it hard this season. The extra amount I pay is for convenience and conversation, plus I feel like I am helping a small business stay open.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by thecardiq

OP is an idiot. /thread

I side with the owner based on OP alone lol.

Price your 1990 Donruss and 1991 Fleer next time.